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Guitar

Study Guitar at Oregon State University

Study the guitar with Dr. Cameron O'Connor, an internationally acclaimed, prize-winning graduate of The Juilliard School.

Guitar studies at OSU emphasize 21st century musicianship: students gain a strong technical and expressive foundation through individual instruction and exploration of over 500 years of guitar repertoire. You can expect to learn effective communication in chamber and large ensemble settings and will receive training in jazz, pop, and early music. The goal of Dr. O'Connor is to give students the tools to become versatile and effective musicians who are comfortable in many settings. In addition to studies in performance and musicianship, guitar students will learn to use technology to create new compositions, arrangements and recordings to create competitive, well-rounded modern musicians.

Dr. Cameron O’Connor’s recent highlights include performances with LA Opera singers in the premiere of Neely Bruce’s “Circular 14: The Apotheosis of Aristides;” solo recitals in Tokyo as part of the Tokyo International Guitar Competition; a tour of the Northwest sponsored by the Ladies’ Musical Club of Seattle; as a chamber music soloist at the New World Symphony in Miami (for which the South Florida Classical Review noted that he was “especially effective”); premiering six solo guitar compositions in 2015; performing with Michael Tilson Thomas for Lukas Foss’ Phorion; and appearing under the baton of Chinese composer Tan Dun in his Eastern-tinged Concerto for Six, for which the New York Times noted that “O’Connor fluttered on his guitar strings in a manner reminiscent of a pipa player’s technique.”

His performances have been featured in film, from James Franco’s Don Quixote to Some Kind of Spark (a documentary made on The Juilliard School’s Music Advancement Program)to Scott Tennant’s instructional Pumping Nylon, and on radio broadcasts such as KPFK’s Global Village, KingFM ’s Northwest Live!, and American Public Media’s Performance Today.

Cameron graduated cum laude from California State University Northridge, where he studied guitar under Ron Borczon and Steve Thachuk, and lute under Ronald Purcell. He received his Master Of Music degree from the Juilliard School in New York City, where he was a student of Sharon Isbin; and as a graduate teaching assistant and student of William Kanengiser, he recently received his doctorate from the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music. Upon completion of that degree, the Thornton School chose him as Outstanding Graduate. His former teaching positions include those at California State University, Bakersfield, and the Thornton School of Music. For more information about Cameron and to view his upcoming performances, please visit: www.cameronoconnor.com.